[Clarap]

My son has been arrested several times, convicted of two petty crimes which he served several weeks in jail on, then probation before he finally learned his lesson. When he runs a criminal background check, "No record for this individual" shows up. He includes his date of birth and his social security number. How can this be? He does have a record... why does 'no record found' appear?

[ScottGem]

How is he running this check? Individuals just can't run a criminal check.

[Fr_Chuck]

So he goes down to the police station ( or county sheriff office) and the report they run does not show his convictions ?

1. where they part of a plea deal, perhaps where after probation charges dropped as a first offender program perhaps ?

2. Where the charges done though a city court, perhaps ? Some city courts do not report minor charges to the national system.

If he is getting his report from some "internet" background check many are not that good.

[Clarap]

Thank you both for responding. His report was processed for $19.95 through Sentry Link (an Internet background search). It supposedly quite reputable, searching thousands of court records... very strange they found nothing.

[Clarap]

Instead of this Internet check, I intend to escort him down to the local police station. Surely we will obtain a true report there.

[ScottGem]

Instead of this Internet check, I intend to escort him down to the local police station. Surely we will obtain a true report there.

Probably not. Its not the police job to do such reports.

I would just go forward assuming the convictions will show on an employment check.

[excon]

His report was processed for $19.95 through Sentry Link (an Internet background search). It supposedly quite reputable, searching thousands of court records...very strange they found nothing.

Hello C:

Reliable?? Who told you that? Somebody else on the internet?? I have MANY more felony's than show up when I look. What makes you think the government does its job, anyway?

excon

[JudyKayTee]

Thank you both for responding. His report was processed for $19.95 through Sentry Link (an Internet background search). It supposedly quite reputable, searching thousands of court records...very strange they found nothing.

I'll add to what Excon said - who said Sentry Link is/was reliable? It is only as good as its sources and only as good as the person who searched and posted the various info.

That may not be any good at all.

SentryLink advertises itself as a firm that does reliable background checks AND is totally compliant with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. What does one have to do with the other?

[Clarap]

Thank you all for responding. It's great hearing feedback. I am more knowledgeable about background checks. It's such a shame that these so called 'Internet searches' are not that credible especially after they take your money. I guess the only place to obtain one is through the local police department. Anyway, thanks again. : )

[Fr_Chuck]

The funny thing with independent searches, they can sometimes show up things that are not on real police reports, they can sometimes show up things that were expunged if they get them in their records before they are explunged, but they also can mix up names and get things on your record that is not true either.

In different areas which police do the report varies. In Atlanta, it will be the County police station. ( not city) in South Ga where I used to live it was the city police.

[ScottGem]

Thank you all for responding. It's great hearing feedback. I am more knowledgeable about background checks. It's such a shame that these so called 'Internet searches' are not that credible especially after they take your money. I guess the only place to obtain one is through the local police department. Anyway, thanks again. : )

Internet searches are probably as reliable as the Internet. They do search the Internet and probably do find out whatever the Internet says about a person.

But when a company does a criminal check for employment background, they don't search the Net. They search court and police records that aren't available on the Net. Not everyone can do such a search

And, again, your local police department may not do a search for you. They are not in the business to do background checks.

[JudyKayTee]

Thank you all for responding. It's great hearing feedback. I am more knowledgeable about background checks. It's such a shame that these so called 'Internet searches' are not that credible especially after they take your money. I guess the only place to obtain one is through the local police department. Anyway, thanks again. : )

Private investigators are another source - without bringing a person to the attention of the Police.

[Fr_Chuck]

And of course a silly question I should have asked earlier, how old was he when he was arrested, since if it was done when he was under 18, the records could be sealed

[JudyKayTee]

And of course a silly question I should have asked earlier, how old was he when he was arrested, since if it was done when he was under 18, the records could be sealed

I missed it, too. Good catch.